Hegg enjoys reminiscing with Lancashire Members

The Kings of One-Day Cricket has been a hot topic during the Club's Head of Cricket Business calls to Members in recent weeks

Former Lancashire captain Warren Hegg has been helping the club keep a check on some of their most vulnerable members during the Coronavirus outbreak with catch-up phone calls.

And the Kings of One-Day Cricket legend has revealed how he has been the victim of a cheeky sledge!

“I spoke to one gentleman last week and asked who is the best spinner you’ve seen at Emirates Old Trafford?” explained the ex-wicketkeeper, affectionately known as Chucky.

“He mentioned Jim Laker and Shane Warne, and I went back with Muttiah Muralitharan.

“Well, he said: ‘Oh yes, I remember sitting behind you when you were keeping to him and, don’t worry, I couldn’t pick him either!’

“We had a good old laugh about that.”

Lancashire are one of a number of counties making check calls to some of their elderly members who have been hit hard by the lack of cricket until at least the end of May.

Hegg, who retired from playing in 2005 and has since been an integral part of the county’s commercial and business teams, is currently the Head of Cricket Business at Emirates Old Trafford.

“Part of what we’re doing is getting players and other key figures on the cricket side of the club to speak to a targeted group of members and just catch up with them,” he explained.

“We’ll have a chat and reminisce about their favourite games and players, how long they’ve been a member and make sure they’re doing alright in general at this time.

“Most of those we’re speaking to are above 80-years-old. The demographics of those men and women who watch county cricket are generally in the older fraternity.

“This time of year, they are usually counting the days down until they get to see their first games of the summer. Unfortunately they currently haven’t got that escape following the winter months and rubbish weather.

“They see this is a big hit to their social lives when they can’t go and sit on a blustery stand with a bag of sandwiches and a pint or a hot flask.”

Hegg, who played two Tests for England on the 1998/99 Ashes tour, was part of nine One-Day trophy successes for the Red Rose between 1989 and 1999 when the county were hailed as the Kings of One-Day Cricket. In 1996, he hit a stunning 81 to help guide them to a one-wicket success over Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford in the semi-final of the Benson and Hedges Cup.

“That game has been mentioned a few times over the last week,” he said. “1996 was a great year, doing the one-day double with the two home semi-final wins over Yorkshire. But I look back on my career and think, ‘How lucky was I to play in that era from the late eighties onwards? I feel very fortunate.”

Even prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, Hegg and some other Lancashire greats had been involved with a Sporting Memories initiative set up by the club’s Foundation. Hegg explained: “Sporting Memories is a group who get together for an hour or so to discuss their memories of not just cricket, but football as well.

“Lancashire, Manchester United and Manchester City are big topics for discussion. I’m not just pigeon holing those clubs, there’s Stockport County, Bury, Bolton discussed as well.

“Myself and Jack Simmons did one last year and talked about our careers, and it’s really interesting and enjoyable.

“It’s for people who suffer from some mental health problems. They get together, and it helps them in their everyday lives.”

At this present time, Lancashire are also rolling out social media videos of classic matches and coaching tips for youngsters, with Hegg adding: “One of our big focuses in the cricket department is that we can’t let cricket drop off people’s radars, be it the professional game or at recreational level.

“When we’re ready to get going again, we want people to be thinking about the game and itching to play or watch.”